I'm home with a miserable head cold, so of course my thoughts turn to politics and government. Both give me equal pressure in my head. I started to muse on what "government" should be, so here are my thoughts;
Government should be a force for good in every citizen's life.
Government's main focus should be making sure everyone gets a fair shot, meaning all citizens get at the very least adequate food, shelter, basic education, and healthcare.
Government should be a protecting force; it should have a powerful say over use of natural resources, pollutants, exploitation of the poor etc.
Government should never be in the business of propping up private corporations.
Government should always break up monopolies.
Government and it's use of our tax money should be transparent as hell.
Government should be a fairly constant rollover of citizens serving in leadership rolls.
Government at the state level should have a much great influence over our daily lives. What works in Minnesota isn't going to work for Arizona.
What would you add?
10 comments:
Government shouldn't be big brotheresque.
To paraphrase the Preamble to the Constitution, government should "provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." Unfortunately those terms are interpreted differently by different groups. To liberals like us, promoting the general welfare would include helping the poor, providing universal healthcare, keeping people from being shot, etc. To the right, not so much!
Government in addition to being transparent, those who manage the affairs of government should be held to account for any theft of resoruces.
Those elected to government office should be held to the same standard as the people laws are made to manage.
I agree with your list and the additions in the comments.
I hope you're feeling better soon. Pressure in the head is no fun at all.
Stephanie, big brothers are known for protecting us, standing by us against the odds, representing us, stealing the last piece of pizza. So far, 1984 is fiction, but though I do would enjoy pizza, I don't mind big brother.
I kind of don't like the big brother's parents, though.
I think you and your commenters above here pretty well covered everything that government should do! I might add one more thing and this is not a "thing" per se, but rather a thought process government should utilize -Common Sense!
Two words: nasal irrigation
Tom,
A couple of more words wouldn't hurt.
I'd be happy if the government put its money where its mouth is when it comes to education. If ours did that, most everything else on your list would fall into place as a consequence.
Government should not be ruled by corporations. Corporations should not be allowed to craft legislation of any sort.
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